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RMD Strategies to Help Ease Your Tax Burden

Many people who save money in traditional 401(k)s, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) or other tax-deferred investment vehicles do so assuming their income-tax rate in retirement will be lower than that of their working years. “The whole premise behind tax deferral is we know we’re going to have to pay income tax on this money eventually,” says Susan Bober, a Schwab wealth strategist in Indianapolis. “We just want it to be less in retirement than what we’d pay during our working years.”

However, it’s not unusual for retirees to find themselves in the same or an even higher tax bracket in retirement. How so? “Many people tap accumulated wealth outside their IRAs,” says Kathy Cashatt, a Schwab senior financial planner in Phoenix. “When you add that income to Social Security and the required minimum distributions (RMDs) the IRS mandates from tax-deferred retirement accounts starting at age 70½, you can land in an unexpectedly high tax bracket.”

Fortunately, a number of strategies can help reduce the impact of RMDs.

First hurdles

The IRS calculates RMDs by taking the sum total of all your tax-deferred retirement accounts at the end of each year and dividing it by a number based on life expectancy and other factors (see “A step-by-step guide to calculating your RMD,” right). The denominator gets smaller and smaller as your age increases, meaning your distributions get larger and larger. For example, the denominator starts at 27.4 for those age 70½, or about $3,650 for every $100,000 in savings, and declines to a low of 1.9 for those age 115 or older, or about $52,630 for every $100,000 in savings (see “Take that,” below).

Many IRA custodians will notify account holders of their RMDs each January (though the IRS holds the account owner ultimately responsible for getting the calculations right). Schwab offers an online calculator to help investors estimate annual distributions. The cost of miscalculating or failing to withdraw the full amount is steep: The IRS charges a 50% penalty on any withdrawals required but not taken.

In many ways, the first year of RMDs can be the toughest. That’s because your initial distribution isn’t due until April 1 of the year after you turn 70½—even though your second RMD is due on December 31 of that same year. Two sizable, taxable withdrawals in the same tax year can more easily bump savers into a higher bracket, so it’s often best to take your initial distribution during the first calendar year in which it’s mandated. (Even after that initial hump, IRA holders should remain vigilant, because your remaining balances will continue to fluctuate—and with them your RMDs.)

A step-by-step guide to calculating your RMD

Source: IRS.gov. If your spouse is the sole beneficiary of your tax-deferred retirement accounts and he or she is more than 10 years younger than you, visit the Required Minimum Distribution Worksheets page of IRS.gov for a worksheet specific to your situation.

Exploring your options

Option 1: One approach is to begin withdrawing funds from tax-deferred accounts at age 59½—generally your earliest opportunity without incurring a 10% penalty—although not so much that you edge yourself into a higher tax bracket. This strategy can reduce the overall size of your tax-deferred accounts, and with them your RMDs once you turn 70½. Such withdrawals can also help make it possible to defer claiming your Social Security benefit, which increases 8% for every year you wait to collect beyond your full retirement age (up to age 70, after which there is no incremental benefit).

Option 2: A second strategy is to convert holdings in your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, which is exempt from RMDs.

There are several situations in which such a conversion may make sense:

You believe you’ll be in a higher bracket when you eventually withdraw the money.

You want to manage or reduce distributions after age 70½.

You want to leave your heirs an income-tax-free asset, as Roth withdrawals aren’t subject to income tax, assuming you’ve held the account for at least five years.

“If you have a sizable income in retirement or don’t need the IRA money for living expenses, a Roth conversion could be a good approach,” Susan says. “However, you’ll pay ordinary income tax on the amount distributed from your regular IRA—and it’s to your advantage to pay any income-tax liability from other assets.”

That’s because, if you’re under age 59½, tapping IRA funds to pay the tax bill stemming from your Roth conversion will result in a 10% penalty on top of any ordinary income tax. Whereas if you’re over age 59½, using your IRA funds to satisfy your tax bill reduces the amount left to grow tax-free, undercutting the rationale behind your Roth conversion to begin with.

A Roth IRA conversion can be especially advantageous during your initial years of retirement, when RMDs haven’t yet kicked in and you’re most likely to be in a lower tax bracket vis-à-vis your working years.

Option 3: Once you reach 70½, a third option to reduce or entirely satisfy your RMDs opens up: a qualified charitable distribution, in which funds are transferred directly from an IRA to a qualified charitable organization. QCDs count toward RMDs but are not taxable, and an individual, whether married or single, can donate up to $100,000 a year from her or his own IRA—with several important caveats:

You can’t claim the QCD as a charitable deduction, though neither does the distribution count as taxable income.

Putting the puzzle together

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act doesn’t alter the rules governing RMDs. That said, the tax brackets and standard deductions have changed, so “it’s best to consult with a certified public accountant or qualified tax advisor who can help you navigate the intricacies of the new tax law,” Susan says.

“From multiple tax-deferred accounts to Social Security to other potential sources of income, there are a number of moving pieces,” Kathy says. “So it’s never too early to start planning.”

The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned here may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decision.

All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market conditions. Data contained herein from third-party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed.

Examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to be reflective of results you can expect to achieve.

This information does not constitute and is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, legal, or investment planning advice. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, Schwab recommends consultation with a qualified tax advisor, CPA, financial planner or investment manager.

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